Ich LifeSpan without a Host

[TangorRay]

Everything I've read on Ich suggests that it's temerature range is up to 86f. Would raising the temp into the 90's kill the parasite more quickly, thus shortening the time needed to go fallow? Would that adversely effect live rock?

I've had faulty heaters raise the temps in my tanks into the 90's and didn't notice any side effects. Anyone with any experience using high temps to kill ich?

 

[microlady]

I wouldn't do it. You might trigger an even longer dormant phase.

 

[Mishri]

I think it would take sometime to completely dry rocks, especially those that are very porous. I think a week in fresh water (with moving them, swirling them in the water every few days) would do the trick. (ich dies from being exposed to freshwater.. I believe in an hour or 2 if I remember right)

 

[ThRoewer]

... (ich dies from being exposed to freshwater.. I believe in an hour or 2 if I remember right)

3 hours.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Mishri]

There are reports in disease books of it laying dormant for 90 days in reefs, and they didn't constitute what a "reef" was so 90 is the bare minimum IMO. The OP of this thread is a personal friend of mine and the tank in question gave me ich on a frag after 9 months... this is why the thread was started since he was skeptical. Since then it has been 10 months fallow now and its confirmed that ich is still present. In this case for whatever reason the ich seems to survive no matter what. Again the stuff in question hasn't had a fish present since January 1, 2016 no question about that

Is this in his 250 gal? Is it possible he still has a small fish he forgot about and doesn't come out at all? that just seems.. amazing to me. I've heard of people losing fish for months and then they suddenly re-appear.. something along those lines?

Oh yeah.. my sea cucumber has one of those rare fish that live inside it.. only comes out at night and only with no lights on. as soon as i turn the lights on it disappears... only catch brief glimpses of it.. maybe one of those?

 

[Dmorty217]

Is this in his 250 gal? Is it possible he still has a small fish he forgot about and doesn't come out at all? that just seems.. amazing to me. I've heard of people losing fish for months and then they suddenly re-appear.. something along those lines?

Oh yeah.. my sea cucumber has one of those rare fish that live inside it.. only comes out at night and only with no lights on. as soon as i turn the lights on it disappears... only catch brief glimpses of it.. maybe one of those?

No the 250g has been void of fish now for a few months. The tank in question is a new 125g that was setup specifically for frags and frags alone for grow out and to ensure disease isn't brought into the DTs. The frags in question came out of a 55g that had been setup for the past 3 years and had live rock from my 220g that was broken down when I moved 11 months ago.

 

[Dmorty217]

Care to qualify "wet"? How long would rock need to dry in order to be considered safe? I assume this would vary, based on the type of rock. Even though I removed this rock a week ago, I can see that it still contains some moisture. The tips are crusty but deeper crevasses probably still contain a certain level of moisture.

As for the live sand, wouldn't the shipping and storage time count as fallow? Of course the question is, when did it get packaged. CaribSea puts a use by date and states a one year shelf life.

I guess I am still hoping there is a recommended process?

The rock, depending on the type and where it is being kept currently could potentially take weeks to dry. I would fill up a few storage bin or a brute with freshwater and soak the rock for a day or two to be certain the rock is void of disease. The other option is baking the rock but that isn't going to be very much fun

 

[WLachnit]

No the 250g has been void of fish now for a few months. The tank in question is a new 125g that was setup specifically for frags and frags alone for grow out and to ensure disease isn't brought into the DTs. The frags in question came out of a 55g that had been setup for the past 3 years and had live rock from my 220g that was broken down when I moved 11 months ago.

This is a reminder for me that...it is critical to understand the chain of custody for everything that goes into the DT.

 

[Dmorty217]

This is a reminder for me that...it is critical to understand the chain of custody for everything that goes into the DT.

Exactly. There has been far too much money, time and effort put into our tanks to not be vigilant

 

[Triggerfish]

the tank in question gave me ich on a frag after 9 months.

curious what kind of frag was this? if a stick, was plug and all removed before adding?